Written Answers Monday 4 December 2006

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) on possible external tendering for the operation of the Patient Transport Service (PTS) where the SAS is unable to cater for fluctuating demand and whether a pilot tendering system for operation of the PTS will be trialled.

Mr Andy Kerr: Health Department Letter (2004) 33 Clarification of Finance (Revenue) Arrangements Relating to the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) describes the partnership and funding arrangements that are in place to support planned changes to the level or pattern of demand on the ambulance service. This highlights the need for early dialogue between NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that any resource consequences of, for example, changes to hospital services, are identified and met.

  Delivering for Health describes a future model of health care that includes the development of responsive community based services for the provision of local diagnosis and treatment. It also provides for the further development of specialised tertiary centres staffed and equipped to deal with the more complex cases. These developments will impact on the provision of patient transport services and the health department is currently considering these implications very carefully along with its NHS partners.

  NHS boards are free to provide non-emergency patient transport services subject to upholding a common set of quality standards designed to safeguard the patient and general public, and giving the Scottish Ambulance Service the agreed period of notice for change.

British Sign Language

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trained signers are available to provide sign language assistance to students in schools and higher education institutions.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are undergoing sign language training to qualify to operate as signers in classrooms and where they receive such training.

Robert Brown: This information is not held centrally.

British Sign Language

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides for training sign language assistants to operate in classrooms in school and higher education institutions.

Robert Brown: The Executive has allocated £13.5 million in 2006-07 to local authorities for general continuing professional development (CPD) and £7.2 million for specific staff training in additional support needs. It is for local authorities to use this funding to meet the needs of young people within their area and this can include training sign language assistants.

  In addition, the Executive has allocated £360,000 to the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters to work in partnership with Heriot-Watt University to develop and deliver a Graduate Diploma in Teaching British Sign Language Tutors.

British Sign Language

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to raise the profile and availability of sign language and recruitment of signers to enable the deaf community to participate fully in the educational system.

Robert Brown: The Executive is working with deaf organisations through its BSL and Linguistic Access Working Group to develop a package of measures to ensure a sustainable increase in registered sign language interpreters including supporting the development and delivery of a Graduate Diploma in Teaching British Sign Language Tutors at Heriot-Watt University and funding the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

  In addition, the Executive is in the final stages of recruiting a BSL and Linguistic Access Project Manager to develop a road map for improving linguistic access for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing people, which will include exploring further ways in which the Executive can increase the number of registered BSL/English interpreters.

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament require all Executive bills on introduction to be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum which sets out the best estimates of the administrative, compliance and other costs to which the provisions of the bill would give rise, best estimates of the timescales over which such costs would be expected to arise, and an indication of the margins of uncertainty in such estimates. The Financial Memorandum must distinguish separately such costs as would fall upon (a) the Scottish administration, (b) local authorities and (c) other bodies, individuals and businesses. These memoranda are freely available on the Scottish Parliament’s website.

  By way of comparable information actual initial set up costs and annual costs for the year 2005-06 in the same categories as the Financial Memoranda is as follows.

  

 Actual


 Executive
 Local Authorities
 Other


 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual


 0.490
 1.463 million
 NIL
 NIL
 NIL
 NIL

Cancer

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20130 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 November 2005, whether the business case has been considered by the minister; if not, when he will consider it, and what the up-to-date position is on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: The process of consulting with the Regional Cancer Networks and NHS Health Board Chief Executives is now complete and I expect to consider a business case regarding two view mammography before the end of 2006.

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. The act received Royal Assent in January 2006 and the great majority of the act’s provisions had not been brought into force by the end of the year 2005-06. Comparable actual costings are not therefore available yet.

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Cathy Jamieson: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Comparable actual costs are not readily available. However, an evaluation of the High Court procedural reforms introduced by the act has been carried out and the report of the evaluation is likely to be published in early 2007. The evaluation report will include an annex, compiled by the relevant justice agencies, on the financial impacts of the reforms.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have been charged with committing offences while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in each year since 1999, broken down by police authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on the drink or drugs status of accused persons is not generally available from the statistics collected centrally on court proceedings. The exceptions to this are offences where by definition the accused was drunk or under the influence of drink or drugs. The available information in relation to these offences is given in the following table.

  Persons Aged Under 21 Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Selected Offences1, by Police Force Area, 1999-2000 to 2004-05

  

 Police Force Area
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Central
 39
 52
 34
 86
 68
 56


 Dumfries and Galloway
 19
 22
 22
 31
 34
 35


 Fife
 56
 55
 49
 135
 77
 65


 Grampian
 173
 79
 134
 129
 149
 118


 Lothian and Borders
 91
 116
 134
 174
 129
 151


 Northern
 115
 40
 71
 100
 101
 81


 Strathclyde
 373
 316
 310
 417
 335
 366


 Tayside
 81
 57
 91
 119
 115
 89


 Scotland
 947
 737
 845
 1,191
 1,008
 961



  Note: 1. Where main offence includes causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs, drunkenness or drink driving.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29356 by Nicol Stephen on 14 November 2006, who, if anyone, owns the electromagnetic spectrum in Scotland, as distinct from who manages it.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive’s understanding is that there is no defined ownership of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, regulation of telecommunications is a reserved matter and, as indicated previously, UK spectrum is managed by OFCOM, who have been empowered through UK legislation to authorise spectrum use under 3,000GHz for wireless telegraphy applications.

Employment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 and 17 and (c) 18 to 21 were in (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) temporary employment in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the level of people in full-time, part-time and temporary employment for 1999-2006 for those aged 16 to 17 and 18 to 21. Information is not available on employment of people aged below 16.

  The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to some sampling error. Any changes in the estimates over time may not be statistically significant when sampling error is taken into account.

  Table 1 – Full-Time, Part-Time and Temporary Employment, 1999-2006

  

 
 Aged 16 and 17
 Aged 18 to 21


 Full-Time
 Part-Time
 Temporary
 Full-Time
 Part-Time
 Temporary


 1999
 25,000 
 37,000 
 12,000 
 87,000 
 54,000 
 17,000 


 2000
 22,000 
 33,000 
 * 
 99,000 
 57,000 
 23,000 


 2001
 18,000 
 34,000 
 * 
 104,000 
 57,000 
 23,000 


 2002
 19,000 
 35,000 
 * 
 109,000 
 61,000 
 19,000 


 2003
 17,000 
 40,000 
 * 
 78,000 
 70,000 
 17,000 


 2004
 14,000 
 37,000 
 * 
 95,000 
 73,000 
 15,000 


 2005
 20,000 
 42,000 
 * 
 93,000 
 60,000 
 18,000 


 2006
 21,000 
 32,000 
 * 
 84,000 
 71,000 
 15,000 



  Source: Labour Force Survey, Spring Quarters (March to May).

  Notes:

  1. Data have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  *Data are unreliable.

Enterprise

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) supermarkets, (b) fast food outlets, (c) independently owned shops and (d) independently owned cafes have been located in each local authority area in each year since 1999, showing year-on-year and overall percentage changes.

Nicol Stephen: It is not possible to answer this question from the data held centrally. The Executive’s firm-level database (Inter-Departmental Business Register) contains data on employment and turnover for all enterprises located in Scotland, but does not record systematically whether the enterprise is independently owned or not. The activity of businesses on the database is recorded using Standard Industrial Classifications, however, these codes do not separately identify the activities requested.

External Relations

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what influence HM Treasury had on preparing and drafting the Executive’s strategy documents for stronger engagement with (a) the United States of America and (b) China and whether a secondee from HM Treasury had primary responsibility for these documents.

Mr Tom McCabe: The strategies for stronger engagement with the USA and China are the plans of Scottish ministers and of course we are always happy to share our knowledge and expertise with HM Treasury.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions and correspondence it has had with Western Ferries since 30 September 2005 in relation to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry market.

Tavish Scott: We have had various written and oral exchanges with Western Ferries since 30 September 2005 on matters relating to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on Treasury proposals for reverting latent bank balances to it.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HM Treasury and is aware of this issue. In our dialogue with HM Treasury, we are stressing that the devolved implications of using unclaimed assets should be considered at an early stage in the process. The Scottish Executive is also liaising with the industry in Scotland as detail on this issue emerges.

  Whilst the gathering of unclaimed assets is likely to be a reserved matter, the distribution of the resources is expected to fall into devolved areas such as support for young people, financial education and financial inclusion. Departments are well briefed and stand ready to ensure that Scotland gets its fair share of any funds which become available.

Finance

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered making representations to the Department of Trade and Industry to examine whether a bond scheme similar to the ABTA scheme for the holiday industry would better protect customers in future, in light of the Farepak collapse.

Allan Wilson: I wrote to Ian McCartney, Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the beginning of November about Farepak. In his response he indicated that the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Services Authority are currently working with the DTI to advise him on the regulatory framework surrounding the collapse of Farepak and consider options to address any issues raised. This is to see what might be done to protect customers of such businesses and prevent a similar situation arising in the future. This work will be completed as soon as possible and I have asked to be kept informed.

  As I understand matters Farepak was a member of the Hamper Industry Trade Association (HITA). A condition of membership was that each member deposited with HITA a bond to the value of £100,000. This bond was simply a commitment of good intent by each member and was never intended to compensate agents and customers in the event of a situation such as Farepak arising.

Finance

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it intends to give the Farepak customers’ protest outside the Halifax Bank of Scotland headquarters on 11 December 2006.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive will not be taking any part in the Farepak customers’ protest outside the Halifax Bank of Scotland headquarters on 11 December. It is for individuals to decide if they wish to protest for or against a particular issue or event.

Financial Inclusion

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the impact on people on low and middle incomes of the recent announcement by First Direct that it will charge customers who deposit less than £1,500 per month into their account a £10 monthly fee to operate a current account.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to investigate the impact on people on low and middle incomes of the recent announcement by First Direct that it will charge customers who deposit less than £1,500 per month into their account a £10 monthly fee to operate a current account.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations on behalf of people on low and middle incomes in Scotland to the Financial Services Authority regarding the recent announcement by First Direct that it will charge customers who deposit less than £1,500 per month into their account a £10 monthly fee to operate a current account.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a commercial decision taken by a financial services firm, which does not contravene the regulatory framework governed by the Financial Services Authority. It is for financial services firms to decide what products they wish to offer to their customers and to determine which markets they wish to target. Customers have a wide range of financial products available to them and are best placed to determine the one appropriate to their needs.

  Our Financial Inclusion Action Plan includes measures to encourage products for low income customers, including through credit unions and basic bank accounts.

Flooding

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce the results of its consultation on the flood defence plan around the Water of Leith and, in particular, the Murrayfield area and when it intends that the implementation of the new defence plan will begin.

Rhona Brankin: Our consideration of the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme has presented the Executive with many challenges in seeking to confirm a scheme which will deliver the maximum resilience against flooding in a way which is fair to all. Following our public consultation in autumn 2005 we have been working to resolve the complex issues involved. Our consideration of these issues is nearing completion and we will conclude this as quickly as we can. Implementation of the scheme thereafter will be for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Food Standards Agency

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budget of Food Standards Agency Scotland has been in each year since its inception.

Lewis Macdonald: 2000-01
£3.567 million
 Outturn


 2001-02
£5.905 million
 Outturn


 2002-03
£5.898 million
 Outturn


 2003-04
£6.5 million
 Outturn


 2004-05
£8.445 million
 Outturn


 2005-06
£11.082 million
 Outturn


 2006-07
£10.2 million
 Budget

Food Standards Agency

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary of the Director of Food Standards Agency Scotland has been in each year since its inception.

Lewis Macdonald: Within band range:

  

 2000-01
£60-65,000


 2001-02
£65-70,000


 2002-03
£65-70,000


 2003-04
£70-75,000


 2004-05
£75-80,000


 2005-06
£80-85,000

Food Standards Agency

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Director of Food Standards Agency Scotland has claimed in expenses in each year since its inception.

Lewis Macdonald: 2000-01
£7,200


 2001-02
£7,500


 2002-03
£6,500


 2003-04
£7,000


 2004-05
£8,300


 2005-06
£12,300

Food Standards Agency

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total staffing costs of Food Standards Agency Scotland have been in each year since its inception.

Lewis Macdonald: 2000-01
£1.121 million


 2001-02
£1.451 million


 2002-03
£1.551 million


 2003-04
£1.627 million


 2004-05
£1.954 million


 2005-06
£2.323 million

Further Education

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, lecturing staff in further education colleges currently hold the Teaching Qualification (Further Education) or equivalent recognised qualification.

Nicol Stephen: According to the Scottish Funding Council’s staffing statistics, published on the internet at http://www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/fe_information/facts_figures/0405/staffing/table%202.pdf .

  Six thousand, four hundred and thirty-eight lecturing staff in Scotland’s colleges held Teaching Qualification (Further Education) or equivalent qualifications in 2004-05, that is 49% of all permanent and temporary, full-time and part-time lecturers.

Genetically Modified Foods

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Food Advisory Committee will discuss the contamination of US rice with unauthorised LL601 rice and its relevance to Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that the Scottish Food Advisory Committee is aware of agency actions in this matter which are subject to proceedings for Judicial Review. The committee have not scheduled a discussion of this issue.

Genetically Modified Foods

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on why the Food Standards Agency did not advise retailers to withdraw products containing unauthorised GM LL601 rice on sale in the United Kingdom until 5 October 2006.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to schools concerning contamination of food products with unauthorised LL601 rice.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what testing of food products supplied to schools has been carried out to verify the absence of unauthorised LL601 rice.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to hospitals concerning contamination of food products with unauthorised LL601 rice.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what testing of food products supplied to hospitals has been carried out to verify the absence of unauthorised LL601 rice.

Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that the issues raised in this question are currently subject to proceedings for judicial review.

  As this question relates to an active court case, I am unable to comment at this stage.

Genetically Modified Foods

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Public Health in Malta following its decision to urge consumers not to consume Blue Ribbon Golden brand or Uncle Ben’s brand of parboiled long grain enriched rice due to contamination by LL601 rice.

Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that it has had no discussions with the Department of Public Health in Malta regarding unauthorised LL601 rice contamination.

Health

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been identified as having Crohn’s disease since 1999, broken down by NHS board, gender and age.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following tables gives the information requested, broken down by NHS board and gender. To break down the information by age, or by gender in the case of the island boards, would run the risk of compromising patient confidentiality.

  

 Argyll and Clyde
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 43
 33
 44
 47
 35
 31
 43


 Females
 58
 48
 58
 52
 61
 43
 47


 Both Sexes
 101
 81
 102
 99
 96
 74
 90



  

 Ayrshire and Arran
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 27
 22
 29
 39
 29
 30
 29


 Females
 35
 33
 39
 48
 41
 37
 55


 Both Sexes
 62
 55
 68
 87
 70
 67
 84



  

 Borders
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 6
 6
 4
 8
 5
 7
 17


 Females
 8
 11
 6
 12
 6
 5
 9


 Both Sexes
 14
 17
 10
 20
 11
 12
 26



  

 Dumfries and Galloway
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 11
 7
 11
 17
 10
 6
 10


 Females
 23
 14
 18
 12
 14
 8
 16


 Both Sexes
 34
 21
 29
 29
 24
 14
 26



  

 Fife
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 58
 36
 59
 73
 84
 73
 83


 Females
 69
 61
 74
 94
 123
 84
 91


 Both Sexes
 127
 97
 133
 167
 207
 157
 174



  

 Forth Valley
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 27
 41
 33
 32
 19
 15
 22


 Females
 46
 38
 38
 37
 27
 25
 13


 Both Sexes
 73
 79
 71
 69
 46
 40
 35



  

 Grampian
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 50
 31
 43
 55
 55
 52
 41


 Females
 54
 72
 63
 74
 70
 66
 57


 Both Sexes
 104
 103
 106
 129
 125
 118
 98



  

 Greater Glasgow
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 85
 55
 68
 79
 64
 72
 55


 Females
 88
 119
 75
 93
 78
 95
 96


 Both Sexes
 173
 174
 143
 172
 142
 167
 151



  

 Highland
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Both Sexes
 60
 39
 38
 55
 56
 43
 54



  

 Lanarkshire
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 40
 42
 45
 42
 37
 34
 39


 Females
 62
 68
 47
 45
 56
 54
 51


 Both Sexes
 102
 110
 92
 87
 93
 88
 90



  

 Lothian
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 47
 59
 31
 29
 54
 51
 64


 Females
 89
 83
 60
 60
 58
 72
 60


 Both Sexes
 136
 142
 91
 89
 112
 123
 124



  

 Orkney
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Both Sexes
 1
 2
 2
 2
 3
 4
 5



  

 Shetland
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Both Sexes
 2
 3
 2
 7
 4
 5
 5



  

 Tayside
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 35
 32
 37
 33
 35
 38
 49


 Females
 37
 43
 38
 28
 49
 46
 41


 Both Sexes
 72
 75
 75
 61
 84
 84
 90



  

 Western Isles
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Both Sexes
 4
 5
 2
 1
 3
 5
 3



  

 Scotland
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Males
 457
 383
 426
 482
 453
 434
 479


 Females
 608
 620
 538
 592
 623
 567
 576


 Both Sexes
 1,065
 10,03
 964
 1,074
 1,076
 1,001
 1,055



  Notes:

  1. These statistics are derived from data collected on in-patient and day case discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospital (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Incidence is based on the number of new or first occurrences of the Disease. Patients’ linked SMR01 records have been screened back to 1981 and a patient can appear only once in each table and are defined in the first year of occurrence of their condition. In other words only ‘new incident cases’ in the time period are included. For example, a patient with the condition recorded in 1999, 2001 and 2004 will only be included under 1999.

  3. Crohn’s Disease was defined as ICD9: 555 and ICD10 K50. All six diagnostic positions on SMR01 were searched for the disease.

Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Much of the 2003 act is yet to be fully implemented. Comparable actual costings are not therefore available yet.

Housing

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many mortgage repossessions there have been in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23961 by Malcolm Chisholm on 16 March 2006, whether it has data to indicate the number of new houses built for social rent in each local authority area for the years subsequent to 2004.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table contains counts of new build completions in the social rented sector for 1996-2005, broken down by local authority area.

  New Dwellings Completed in the Social Sector by Local Authority Area; 1996 to 2005

  

 Local Authority Area
 1996
 1997
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Scotland
 2,858
 4,684
 2,050
 4,992
 4,989
 5,574
 5,171
 3,992
 3,483
 5,231


 Aberdeen City
 157
 327
 21
 115
 98
 203
 79
 169
 98
 141


 Aberdeenshire
 152
 291
 43
 226
 116
 176
 199
 211
 169
 279


 Angus 
 110
 179
 159
 119
 110
 67
 167
 43
 100
 67


 Argyll and Bute
 3
 91
 199
 112
 121
 105
 4
 59
 72
 99


 Clackmannanshire
 32
 0
 18
 39
 59
 0
 72
 28
 50
 27


 Dumfries and Galloway
 34
 202
 14
 179
 69
 197
 77
 96
 109
 92


 Dundee
 185
 306
 70
 242
 231
 106
 302
 72
 353
 179


 East Ayrshire
 32
 28
 60
 32
 20
 147
 4
 98
 6
 10


 East Dunbartonshire
 0
 0
 22
 15
 24
 55
 10
 4
 7
 0


 East Lothian 
 16
 22
 19
 61
 79
 9
 18
 14
 16
 145


 East Renfrewshire
 27
 17
 0
 84
 126
 41
 0
 30
 15
 4


 Edinburgh
 104
 351
 132
 576
 521
 545
 511
 156
 228
 480


 Eilean Siar
 7
 4
 8
 2
 13
 14
 22
 13
 19
 43


 Falkirk 
 34
 62
 28
 78
 103
 97
 86
 34
 1
 29


 Fife
 203
 407
 124
 421
 174
 186
 336
 194
 124
 226


 Glasgow
 434
 785
 377
 834
 1,159
 1,841
 1,244
 1,496
 886
 1,179


 Highland
 196
 203
 101
 143
 225
 149
 157
 147
 159
 183


 Inverclyde 
 112
 0
 117
 93
 248
 119
 141
 101
 103
 70


 Midlothian 
 42
 74
 12
 47
 0
 28
 17
 31
 14
 6


 Moray 
 84
 101
 17
 30
 30
 56
 33
 2
 8
 146


 North Ayrshire
 53
 25
 26
 149
 67
 76
 64
 83
 25
 126


 North Lanarkshire
 160
 261
 80
 334
 277
 266
 360
 131
 114
 524


 Orkney 
 53
 12
 0
 14
 29
 52
 44
 24
 34
 67


 Perth and Kinross 
 98
 267
 119
 182
 193
 100
 215
 176
 122
 118


 Renfrewshire 
 273
 94
 0
 92
 167
 152
 155
 48
 182
 112


 Scottish Borders
 8
 20
 123
 83
 101
 88
 85
 44
 76
 56


 Shetland 
 0
 0
 0
 56
 14
 22
 14
 1
 6
 3


 South Ayrshire
 95
 28
 93
 68
 61
 64
 131
 74
 70
 22


 South Lanarkshire
 65
 206
 24
 61
 274
 126
 316
 103
 196
 287


 Stirling 
 28
 56
 0
 85
 83
 62
 106
 84
 27
 81


 West Dunbartonshire 
 45
 0
 0
 213
 92
 263
 182
 136
 19
 325


 West Lothian 
 16
 265
 44
 207
 105
 162
 20
 90
 75
 105



  Source: Scottish Executive Development Department: Housing Statistics NB1 return and Communities Scotland.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many empty homes there are in the (a) public and (b) private sector in each local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table gives the available information. Information is not held centrally on vacant private sector stock.

  The General Register Office for Scotland provide annual estimates of the total number of occupied and unoccupied properties, derived from council tax billing information. These estimates are available on the GRO(S) website at:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/household-estimates-projections/household-estimates-for-scotland-by-local-authority-1991-to-2005/tables-and-charts.html.

  Vacant Local Authority and Housing Association Stock at 31 March 2006

  

 Local Authority Area
 Local Authority Stock
 Housing Association Stock4


 Normal Letting Stock
 Other Vacant Dwellings 1


 Aberdeen City
 694
 677
 55


 Aberdeenshire2
 186
 33
 51


 Angus2
 83
 129
 68


 Argyll and Bute
 51
 193
 35


 Clackmannanshire
 126
 47
 21


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 152


 Dundee City
 35
 623
 388


 East Ayrshire
 279
 430
 39


 East Dunbartonshire
 22
 13
 26


 East Lothian
 83
 16
 17


 East Renfrewshire
 79
 51
 6


 Edinburgh, City of 
 188
 647
 275


 Eilean Siar2
 17
 5
 2


 Falkirk
 192
 312
 41


 Fife
 575
 652
 99


 Glasgow City
 
 
 6,873


 Highland
 180
 107
 95


 Inverclyde2
 152
 1,012
 84


 Midlothian2
 26
 11
 20


 Moray
 27
 4
 14


 North Ayrshire
 51
 0
 41


 North Lanarkshire
 141
 371
 135


 Orkney
 8
 10
 2


 Perth and Kinross3
 245
 268
 28


 Renfrewshire
 151
 1,045
 128


 Scottish Borders, The
 
 
 415


 Shetland
 79
 16
 0


 South Ayrshire
 74
 71
 8


 South Lanarkshire
 183
 405
 69


 Stirling
 52
 257
 10


 West Dunbartonshire
 185
 563
 285


 West Lothian2
 28
 104
 67


 Scotland
 4,192
 8,072
 9,549



  Sources:

  Stock1 and Stock2 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department: Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Annual Performance Statistical Return by housing associations to Communities Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Includes dwellings used as temporary accommodation for the homeless, dwellings that are awaiting demolition, dwellings that are part of a modernisation scheme, and dwellings identified as being in a low demand area.

  2. Estimates for vacant dwellings based on March 2005 figures due to outstanding returns.

  3. Estimates for vacant dwellings based on March 2004 figures due to outstanding returns.

  4. Vacant housing association stock includes normal lettings stock, dwellings in low demand areas, those held for demolition, and those used as decants.

Housing

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been transferred from each local authority housing revenue account in aid of general funds in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  HRA Revenue Balances Transferred to the General Services Account (£000)

  

 Local Authority
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Near Actual
 Estimate


 Aberdeen City 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Aberdeenshire 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 Angus 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 Argyll and Bute 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Clackmannanshire 
 370
 300
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 199
 127
 0
 3,057
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 Dundee City 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 East Ayrshire 
 882
 1,086
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 East Dunbartonshire 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 East Lothian 
 500
 1242
 1,250
 1,060
 500
 1,021
 4,233
 3,227


 East Renfrewshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Eilean Siar
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 Falkirk 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Fife 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Glasgow
 6,358
 0
 0
 1,530
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 Highland 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 758
 0


 Inverclyde 
 0
 452
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Midlothian 
 458
 1,500
 1,000
 1,000
 1,101
 1,000
 1,000
 1,000


 Moray 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 78
 0
 0
 0


 North Ayrshire 
 1,650
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 North Lanarkshire 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Orkney Islands 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 Perth and Kinross 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 Renfrewshire 
 0
 0
 0
 1,100
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 0
 0
 800
 0
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 Shetland Islands 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 South Ayrshire 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 South Lanarkshire 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Stirling 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 
 


 West Lothian 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 10,417
 4,707
 3,050
 7,747
 1,679
 2,021
 5,991
 4,227



  Source: Local authority housing revenue account (HRA) returns.

  Note: Glasgow, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway transferred their housing stock in 2003. The 2006 HRA returns which provides 2005-06 and 2006-07 data are not yet complete.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category

Malcolm Chisholm: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Due to the enabling nature of the act many of the associated costs are discretionary and linked to the general process of change in the housing sector. It is not practicable therefore to separate out all the costs which were an immediate consequence of the act from the cost of change more generally. The following table sets out the substantive costs of the act that can be estimated, using the annual costs incurred in 2005-06 and the same categories as the Financial Memorandum.

  

 Costs to the Scottish Executive
 Costs to Local Authorities
 Costs To Individuals and Other Bodies


 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs


£0.964 million
– £0.339 million
£12.5 million
£21.624 million
£5.5 million
–

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to adopt the recommendation of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to introduce legislation to establish a satisfactory framework to take account of the latest automatic number plate recognition technological advances.

Cathy Jamieson: We are in on-going discussions with the Home Office on the implications of the previous Chief Surveillance Commissioner’s recommendation.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into the effectiveness of ignition interlock systems for convicted drink drivers as a way to reduce this type of repeat offending, lower the rate of death and injury on Scotland’s roads and reduce pressure on the resources on police and emergency health professionals.

Cathy Jamieson: Road traffic legislation is reserved and as such is the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

  The Department for Transport will shortly be completing a two and a half year research project (in Manchester and West Midlands) on the operation of alcohol ignition interlocks, in which drivers who had, in the past, been convicted of drink-driving were invited to use an interlock for six months. The project has collected a large amount of data about their driving behaviour and attitudes and how they may have changed. A final report is expected in the spring of 2007.

  Enabling powers have been created in the Road Safety Act 2006 to allow for a regime of alcohol ignition interlock programmes as a court disposal in Great Britain. This regime is modelled on the Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Courses that have been available throughout Great Britain since 2000.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated or actual cost has been to the public purse of dealing with individuals who commit drink-driving offences in terms of (a) costs to the courts, (b) associated health resources for dealing with the victims of such offences and (c) police and other emergency services’ clean-up and operational time and resources, broken down by year since 1996.

Cathy Jamieson: (a) The following table shows estimated court running costs for hearing cases involving drink-driving related offences, the majority of which are prosecuted through the courts by way of summary criminal procedure.

  The costs used in the table have been estimated by extrapolation from average court running and shrieval costs as published by the Scottish Executive in the annual Costs, Sentencing Profiles and the Scottish Criminal Justice System report published by the Scottish Executive in terms of section 306 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Costs for 2004-05 have not yet been published.

  Prosecution and witness costs are not included in the figures below.

  Number of Convictions for Drink-Driving Related Offences and Associated Average Court Time Costs

  

 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 9,843
 9,452
 8,345
 8,527
 7,238
 7,477
 10,688
 9,192


£1.1 million
£990,000
£880,000
£810,000
£690,000
£830,000
£1.3 million
£1.2 million



  Conviction figures extracted from Statistical Bulletin Criminal Justice Series: CrJ/2006/3 published by the Scottish Executive http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/25104019/31.

  (b) This information is not held centrally as regards health resources.

  (c) This information is not held centrally as regards police and other emergency service resources.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) cautioned for, (b) prosecuted for and (c) convicted of soliciting in each year since 1999, broken down by age and gender.

Cathy Jamieson: Formal police cautions do not apply in Scotland. The available information on prosecutions and convictions is given in the following table.

  Persons Proceeded against in Scottish Courts for Offences Related to Prostitution1, by Age and Gender, 1999-2000 to 2004-05

  

 Gender and Age
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Total number
 297
 194
 133
 105
 134
 232


 Males
 1
 2
 3
 -
 -
 -


 Females
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Aged under 21
 32
 34
 18
 14
 9
 13


 Aged 21-30
 181
 102
 71
 65
 80
 146


 Aged over 30
 83
 56
 41
 26
 45
 73


 Number of persons with a charge proved
 287
 160
 110
 99
 126
 223


 Males
 1
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Females
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Aged under 21
 30
 26
 15
 14
 9
 12


 Aged 21-30
 174
 86
 60
 60
 75
 140


 Aged over 30
 82
 46
 33
 25
 42
 71



  Note: 1. Where main offence under section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people seeking to purchase sex have been (a) cautioned for, (b) prosecuted for and (c) convicted of causing nuisance or offence in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: This type of offending behaviour is likely to result in a charge of breach of the peace. However, such cases cannot be separated out from the statistics held centrally on recorded crime or court proceedings.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of living off immoral earnings in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Living off Immoral Earnings, 1999-2000 to 2004-05

  

 Year
 Number


 1999-2000
 1


 2000-01
 -


 2001-02
 2


 2002-03
 3


 2003-04
 3


 2004-05
 2



  Note: 1. Where main offence is under section 11 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.

Justice

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the 100-year closure order placed on some of the evidence presented to Lord Cullen’s inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane Primary School is lawful and, if it is satisfied, whether it will cite the specific statute invoked to allow that order to be made lawfully.

Elish Angiolini QC: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-34924 on 18 March 2003 and in particular to paragraphs four to nine of that answer. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

NHS Hospitals

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of providing (a) cleaning and (b) catering services to NHS hospitals in each financial year since 1997-98, broken down by hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: The total cost of providing (a) cleaning and (b) catering services to NHS hospitals in each financial year since 1997-98, broken down by hospital is given in table numbers 1 and 2 of NHS Catering and Cleaning Costs 1997-2005 which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41087).

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time for (a) routine and (b) urgent bone scans is in each NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

Nursing

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the level of bursary awarded to nursing students.

Mr Andy Kerr: The nursing and midwifery student bursary and associated allowances are kept under review on an on-going basis. They are increased annually for inflation.

Nursing

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider allowing student nurses to be eligible for student loans.

Nicol Stephen: Eligible students who enter a degree course in nursing or midwifery in 2001-02 receive student support available through the Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary Scheme. The Scottish Executive has no current plans to allow student nurses to be eligible for student loans.

Nursing

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the reasons for student nurses dropping out of their courses.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not carried out specific research into the reasons for nursing and midwifery students dropping out of their courses. However, we recognise that attrition from these courses needs to be addressed and a sub-group of Facing the Future has been set up to pull together the large amount of action that is already on-going to assist students to successfully complete their pre-registration nursing and midwifery programme. It is looking at best practice both here in Scotland and more widely, and will produce recommendations that will improve student retention still further.

Nursing

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of student nurses have dependent relatives.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not collected centrally.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, what account is taken of the impact of inflation in the annual net present value costs of HM Prison Addiewell.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The contract price for HM Prison Addiewell is revised annually based on a formula specified in the contract and linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). In accordance with accepted practice, the impact of RPI is not included in the net present value calculation.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, what discount rate was used in calculating the net present value costs of HM Prison Addiewell.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  3.5%.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, what the annual cost will be to the public sector of monitoring the HM Prison Addiewell contract.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, how many staff members of the Scottish Prison Service will be involved in overseeing HM Prison Addiewell from 2008 onwards and what the annual salary costs for these staff will be.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS will finalise arrangements prior to the prison opening around the end of 2008.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent buying the land on which HM Prison Addiewell will be built.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  £722,000.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, what the staffing levels will be at HM Prison Addiewell; what the annual staff salary costs of the prison will be, and whether there is any provision in the contract for any part of the staffing costs to be paid from the public purse.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The staffing levels and salary costs are matters for Addiewell Prison Limited, the contractor of HM Prison Addiewell.

  There is no provision in the contract for any part of the staffing costs to be paid from the public purse.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29336 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 November 2006, whether there are any provisions in the contract for HM Prison Addiewell to reduce the annual payments if the population of the prison falls below capacity.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes.

Rail Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which train service was the most overcrowded in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive does not possess records for this period.

Refuges

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women’s refuge spaces there were in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Scottish Women’s Aid can provide information on the number of refuge spaces provided by affiliated women’s aid groups over the period requested.

  The Executive has invested £12 million since 2000 in providing 186 new, upgraded or refurbished refuge spaces, which include over 600 individual bed spaces, and the National Group to Address Violence Against Women has established a "Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support Provision" subgroup which will be considering future need.

Renewable Energy

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants, loans and other financial and non-financial support it and its agencies have awarded to Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, its consultants or partners to progress work related to the proposal to develop an offshore windfarm in Aberdeen Bay.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has advised the Group of possible stakeholder interest but has provided no financial support in respect of the offshore wind farm proposal.

  On 23 December 2005, the Scottish ministers, in accordance with their statutory obligations, provided AMEC Wind Energy Ltd with a written scoping opinion. The opinion outlined the Scottish ministers’ required content for the Environmental Statement which would be required in support of an application submitted for consent in respect of the offshore wind farm proposal under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

  The Executive has provided a contribution of £30,000 to help the group assess the feasibility of building an Energy Futures Centre in Aberdeen, to showcase the city’s energy capabilities.

Road Accidents

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pedestrians have been (a) injured, (b) seriously injured or (c) killed in collisions with cyclists in each region in each of the last 12 months.

Tavish Scott: The following tables give information about the numbers of pedestrians who were injured, having been struck by a pedal cycle, in road accidents which were reported by the police in their Stats 19 injury road accident statistics returns. The figures do not include any pedestrians who were injured in accidents which were not reported by the public to the Police. Figures are given for each month in 2005: provisional figures for 2006 will be published in June 2007.

  (a) Pedestrians who were injured (but not killed) in collisions with pedal cyclists in 2005:

  

 
 Northern
 Grampian
 Tayside
 Fife
 Lothian and Borders
 Central
 Strathclyde
 Dumfries and Galloway


 January
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 0
 0
 0


 February
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 March
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 April
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 May
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 June
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 July
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 August
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 September
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 October
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 November
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 December
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  (b) Pedestrians who were seriously injured (but not killed) in collisions with pedal cyclists in 2005:

  

 
 Northern
 Grampian
 Tayside
 Fife
 Lothian and Borders
 Central
 Strathclyde
 Dumfries and Galloway


 January
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 February
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 March
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 April
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 May
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 June
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 July
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 August
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 September
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 October
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 November
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 December
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  (c) There were no pedestrians who were killed in collisions with pedal cyclists in 2005.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list its 10 top priority road improvement initiatives and what action is being taken to implement them.

Tavish Scott: Scottish Executive ministers do not have a "top ten" list of priority road schemes. The current schemes being taken forward are as follows:

  Kincardine Bridge: Under construction

  A68 Dalkeith Bypass

  A90 Glendoick and Kinfauns Interchanges

  M74 Completion: Tenders Invited

  A9 Ballinluig

  A830 Arisaig – Loch Nan Uamh

  A75 Overtaking Opportunities

  M80 Stepps – Haggs: Bidding Interests Invited

  M8 Baillieston – Newhouse: Major schemes being prepared

  M8 Associated network improvements

  Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road

  A725/M74 Raith Interchange.

  Schemes to improve the trunk road network are published on the Transport Scotland Website http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/. Transport Scotland should be contacted for further information regarding these schemes.

Scottish Executive Departments

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29675 by Mr Tom McCabe on 17 November 2006, how many new efficiency projects it has (a) identified and (b) implemented since November 2005 and what the total value is of those projects.

Mr Tom McCabe: In my answer to question S2W-29675 I directed Mr Mather to the Executive’s website where detail of all efficiency projects can be viewed:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/31095821/0.

  No new Efficiency Technical Notes for projects have been issued since November 2005. However, the 71 Efficiency Technical Notes that were re-issued in May 2006, have been developed and refined to deliver £1,271 million of efficiency gains in 2007-08.

  A number of Efficiency Technical Notes, for new projects have been developed and are being finalised, for inclusion in the next update of the Efficiency Technical Notes to be issued in the very near future.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which external consultants were used by each of its (a) departments and (b) agencies on projects relating to (i) private finance initiatives and (ii) public private partnerships in each year since 1999 and what the (1) nature and (2) cost of the consultants’ work was in each case.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is set out in the following table and covers the Scottish Executive’s own PPP projects as well as those health and local authority PPP projects where the Scottish Executive has incurred direct costs. The increasing values over these years reflects the increased investment value of PPP procurements, especially in the schools sector.

  The information has not been split into PFI and PPP projects as these terms tend to be used interchangeably. PFI is a subset of the wider PPP definition.

  

 Year
 PPP Project
 SE Department/Agency
 Name of External Consultants
 Amount Paid (£)
 Nature of Work


 1999
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2000
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2001
 M77
 ETLLD
 PricewaterhouseCoopers
 210,000
 Financial advice on tender preparation and issue


 
 M77
 ETLLD
 Shepherd and Wedderburn
 105,000
 Legal advice on tender preparation and issue


 2002
 M77
 ETLLD
 PricewaterhouseCoopers
 167,491
 Financial advice on tender co-ordination, negotiation and award


 
 M77
 ETLLD
 Shepherd and Wedderburn
 62,603
 Legal advice on tender co-ordination, negotiation and award


 2003
 Argyll and Bute Council’s schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 235,000
 Support for development of non-profit distributing organisation model


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 32,955
 Carrying out of Key Stage Review work


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Burness
 19,093
 Legal advice on contract derogations


 2004
 M77
 ETLLD
 PricewaterhouseCoopers
 30,992
 Financial advice on contract


 
 M77
 ETLLD
 Shepherd and Wedderburn
 45,720
 Legal advice on contract


 
 Skye Bridge
 ETLLD
 Partnerships UK
 28,065
 Advice related to the buy-out


 
 Skye Bridge
 ETLLD
 Commerzbank
 209,131
 Financial advice in connection with the buy-out


 
 Skye Bridge
 ETLLD
 Scott Wilson
 10,514
 Technical advice in connection with the buy-out


 
 Skye Bridge
 ETLLD
 McGrigors
 66,738
 Legal advice in connection with the buy-out


 
 Balfron and East Renfrewshire Council’s PPP1 schools projects, NHS Tayside Carseview
 ED, HD
 Partnerships UK
 30,677
 SE’s share of advisory costs in connection with situation that arose with a contractor


 
 Inverness Airport
 ETLLD
 Partnerships UK
 4,109
 Work carried out in connection with the buy-out


 
 East Lothian Council’s schools project
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 16,390
 Work carried out in supporting project after a consortium member went into administration


 
 Argyll and Bute Council’s schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 176,250
 Support for development of non-profit distributing organisation model


 
 Western Isles Council’s schools project
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 29,632
 Work on development of hybrid model


 
 Renfrewshire Council’s schools project
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 21,490
 Support work carried out


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 115,992
 Carrying out of Key Stage Review work


 
 Various health projects
 HD
 Partnerships UK
 19,697
 Carrying out of Key Stage Review work


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Burness
 35,250
 Legal advice on contract derogations


 2005
 Balfron and East Renfrewshire Council’s PPP1 schools projects, NHS Tayside Carseview
 ED, HD
 Partnerships UK
 17,408
 SE’s share of advisory costs in connection with situation that arose with a contractor


 
 Inverness Airport
 ETLLD
 Partnerships UK
 2,831
 Work carried out in connection with the buy-out


 
 Argyll and Bute Council’s schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 176,250
 Support for development of non-profit distributing organisation model


 
 Falkirk, Aberdeen City Councils’ schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 46,017
 Support for non-profit distributing organisation model


 
 Western Isles Council’s schools project
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 70,194
 Work on development of hybrid model


 
 North Lanarkshire Council’s schools project
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 1,086
 Support work carried out


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Partnerships UK
 139,616
 Carrying out of Key Stage Review work


 
 Various health projects
 HD
 Partnerships UK
 48,025
 Carrying out of Key Stage Review work


 
 NHS Lothian Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
 HD
 Partnerships UK
 15,573
 Work carried out on contract


 
 Various schools projects
 ED
 Burness
 62,569
 Legal advice on contract derogations

Scottish Executive Procurement

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on organising and hosting press conferences in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information in the form requested is not held.

  The vast majority of news conferences are held within St Andrew’s House, making use of the existing facilities in the media centre. In addition, the daily briefings by the First Minister’s Official Spokesperson are usually conducted in a room at the Parliament.

  Organising news conferences is a fundamental part of the day-to-day work done by staff in Media and Communications. Specific costs over and above staff time are limited to the occasional provision of tea, coffee and biscuits.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the selection process is by which it ensures that the convener and other members of the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features of land.

Rhona Brankin: Appointments to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest are made by Scottish ministers in open competition and are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS).

  Ministers appoint committee members from among persons appearing to them to have scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features of land.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what directions have been given to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in respect of the committee’s procedures.

Rhona Brankin: Procedures are set out in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest may invite external advice and, if so, in what circumstances, how often it has done so and what steps are taken to ensure that those advising the committee have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features of land.

Rhona Brankin: The Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) has invited external advice from specialist advisers on eight of the 10 cases it has considered since August 2001. Specialist advice is sought when the committee feels that it needs additional expert input on specialist ecological and scientific issues.

  All potential advisers are approached to provide CVs, which are passed to committee members for consideration. Advisers are usually well-known to the scientific community as experts in their field. ACSSSI remains responsible for determining its advice after taking account of such additional input and is not bound to accept the advice of its specialist advisers.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been referred to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in each of the last five years and, in each case, whether the committee’s advice was in favour of (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) objectors or (c) neither and whether Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) regarded or disregarded the committee’s advice.

Rhona Brankin: The Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) has reported on the following numbers of cases since 1 August 2001:

  

 2001
 4


 2002
 3


 2003
 1


 2004
 1


 2005
 0


 2006
 1



  ACSSSI is also currently considering one case. Details of all cases referred to ACSSSI are published annually in SNH’s Facts and Figures publication.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest considers only objections to SSSI notification and denotification.

Rhona Brankin: The statutory role of the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is set out in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Social Work

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use end-year flexibility to address shortfalls in local authority social work budgets.

Robert Brown: No. End-year flexibility is a one-off sum of money and cannot be used to sustain any alleged shortfalls in local authority social work budgets.

Speed Limits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effect on the number of (a) injuries and (b) fatalities to heavy goods vehicle drivers of the compulsory introduction of speed limiting devices.

Tavish Scott: The policy relating to the fitting of speed limiting devices on HGVs is reserved to the Department for Transport (DfT). Neither the Executive nor DfT have carried out any such assessment. However, as vehicles will be limited to maximum speeds of 56 mph and 62 mph respectively the expectation is the number of serious accidents involving these vehicles, particularly on motorways and dual carriageways, should reduce.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the estimated completion date for the Forthbank curling academy and sports hall in Stirling has moved from October 2007 to April 2008 and whether it expects any further delay to the project.

Patricia Ferguson: The start and completion dates for the Forthbank project were based on projections from Stirling Council which have proved to be unrealistic as the project has progressed. A contributory factor in the delay of this project has been the difficulty Stirling Council have experienced in financing the project. Stirling Council advise that the estimated completion date for this project is April 2009.

  Sportscotland are concerned about delays in the timescales for the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy projects and are in regular discussions with Stirling Council to try and resolve any problems as they arise.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in discussions with the UK Government on reform of statistics, it has secured guarantees of Scottish representation on the board of the proposed non-departmental public body responsible for statistics and, if so, what percentage of such a board will be representatives of Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Statistics and Registration Service Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 21 November 2006, makes provision for one non-executive board member to be appointed by HM Treasury after consultation with Scottish ministers.

  The bill states that the board will consist of non-executive and executive members. The executive members are to be the National Statistician and two other employees of the board. The non-executive members are to be the chairman and at least five other people. The number of non-executive members has not at this stage been decided so it is not possible to express the Scottish membership as a percentage of total membership.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lodge a legislative consent motion in the Scottish Parliament in relation to the UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Legislative Consent Motion, to extend the relevant aspects of the UK Statistics and Registration Service Bill to Scotland, should be lodged in December 2006.

Student Finance

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates (a) in total and (b) who have taken out student loans have declared themselves bankrupt in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The Student Loans Company (SLC) do not hold information on how many of their customers graduate. The following table provides details of the total number of Scottish domiciled student loan borrowers who are bankrupt or have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) as at 7 August 2006.

  

 1999
 112


 2000
 113


 2001
 144


 2002
 227


 2003
 365


 2004
 454


 2005
 569


 2006
 284



  Source: Student Loans company (SLC).

  The bankruptcy figures are given retrospectively. For example, a customer may advise SLC in 2005 that they have been declared bankrupt in 2002. This would therefore affect the figure for 2002.

Student Finance

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates currently have a student loan debt of above (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000 and (d) £25,000.

Nicol Stephen: The Student Loans Company (SLC) do not hold details of how many of their customers graduate. The following table gives details of SLC customers who have student loan debt of above (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000 and (d) £25,000.

  The figures giving details of the number of customers with student loan debt above £10,000 are inclusive for example, the figures giving details of those with debts above £15,000 are also included in the over £10,000 figure.

  Number of Customers having a Student Loan Debt above the Given Threshold, Retained Portfolio Only

  

 Domicile
 Threshold
 Customer Count[1][2]


 Scotland
>= £10,000
 30,990 


 Scotland
>= £15,000
 11,416 


 Scotland
>= £20,000
 2,015 


 Scotland
>= £25,000
 240 



  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

  Notes:

  1. Includes mortgage style loans and income contingent style loans.

  2. Excludes ICR repayments which have been deducted by the employer, but not yet received by SLC.

Student Finance

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many refunds were processed by the Student Loans Company in each year between 2000 and 2005 and what proportion of these resulted from overpayment of student loans.

Nicol Stephen: Number of Refunds Processed in each Financial Year, for Scottish Domicile Loans in the Retained Portfolio - All Loan Products:

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Refunds[1]
 Number with Income Contingent Credit Balance
 Proportion of Refunds from Overpayment of Income Contingent Loans


 2000-01
 1,486
 0
 0%


 2001-02
 2,507
 27
 1%


 2002-03
 3,228
 196
 6%


 2003-04
 3,462
 522
 15%


 2004-05
 3,808
 1,099
 29%


 2005-06
 5,020
 2,028
 40%



  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

  Note: 1. Mortgage Style and Income Contingent style Loans.

Taxation

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the proposed introduction of a planning-gain supplement and, in particular, whether it has been asked for or submitted views on the principle and implementation of such a tax, on whether it will apply at a uniform rate throughout the UK and on whether the Executive or Scottish local authorities will receive any or all of the revenues raise.

Malcolm Chisholm: Taxation is a reserved matter. The consultation paper issued by the UK Government at the end of last year raised a great number of questions. We are aware of the very many concerns raised by local authorities, developers, professionals and others about the outline proposals and reflected these in the Scottish Executive response to the Treasury. We have continued to discuss these concerns with HM Treasury as they develop these proposals further. Our aim is to secure a sensible and workable solution for Scotland.

Transport (Scotland) Act 2001

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Tavish Scott: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. The initial set up costs and annual costs for 2005-06 incurred directly by the Scottish Executive are estimated respectively at £4,133,000 and £200,000 but fully comparable actual costs are not readily available. The Executive does not hold details of any expenditure by local authorities or others as an immediate consequence of the act.

Transport (Scotland) Act 2005

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Tavish Scott: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Set up costs incurred by the Scottish Executive have amounted to £19.776 million. No other material costs have arisen to date as a result of the act.